208 ON THE EFFECTING OF 



state of rest, this person, mindful of his oath, deemed it 

 adviseable to return to the eastward. This part of the 

 Journal will be useful in reference to our inquiry, when 

 further considering the subject of the north-west passage. 



A lofty berg this day came in view, with a Gothic arch, 

 at least 100 feet high, passing quite through one extremity : 

 the bottom of the arch was covered with the fragments that 

 had fallen from the cavity above. Over the crown of this 

 arch, a broad and heavy superstructure of the icy mass 

 sat suspended, offering an appearance of stability awfully 

 deceptive ; under which, were an antiqviarian to stand 

 taking a drawing from this extraordinary structure, very 

 few persons of common caution would venture to ensure 

 his life : the washing of the sea had worn a bay witliin the 

 bosom of this berg, which bore strongly the semblance 

 of land, and the ruins of the icy arch added forcibly to 

 the deception. 



From the remarks in the preceding day's journal (to 

 which the reader is referred), the approach of the fog bank, 

 on the 23d July, must have been contemplated with much 

 uneasiness. At a distance from the land, which at best 

 could only relieve from the apprehension of drowning ; in a 

 latitude which forbade every hope of escape or prolonged 

 life, were the ship to founder ; and well aware that the all- 

 involving fog would have its ruinous effects increased by 

 any degree of breeze ; it may not be exaggeration to say, 



